Загублений світ
The Outlying Pickets of the New World
"MayIask,sir,"saidSummerlee,withviciouscalm,"inwhatcapacityyoutakeituponyourselftoissuetheseorders?"
Challengerglaredandbristled.
"Idoit,ProfessorSummerlee,asleaderofthisexpedition."
"Iamcompelledtotellyou,sir,thatIdonotrecognizeyouinthatcapacity."
"Indeed!"Challengerbowedwithunwieldysarcasm."Perhapsyouwoulddefinemyexactposition."
"Yes,sir.Youareamanwhoseveracityisupontrial,andthiscommitteeisheretotryit.Youwalk,sir,withyourjudges."
"Dearme!"saidChallenger,seatinghimselfonthesideofoneofthecanoes."Inthatcaseyouwill,ofcourse,goonyourway,andIwillfollowatmyleisure.IfIamnottheleaderyoucannotexpectmetolead."
Thankheaventhatthereweretwosanemen—LordJohnRoxtonandmyself—topreventthepetulanceandfollyofourlearnedProfessorsfromsendingusbackempty-handedtoLondon.Sucharguingandpleadingandexplainingbeforewecouldgetthemmollified!ThenatlastSummerlee,withhissneerandhispipe,wouldmoveforwards,andChallengerwouldcomerollingandgrumblingafter.BysomegoodfortunewediscoveredaboutthistimethatbothoursavantshadtheverypoorestopinionofDr.IllingworthofEdinburgh.Thenceforwardthatwasouronesafety,andeverystrainedsituationwasrelievedbyourintroducingthenameoftheScotchzoologist,whenbothourProfessorswouldformatemporaryallianceandfriendshipintheirdetestationandabuseofthiscommonrival.
